My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 277

277. Overture

Swish! Swish!

The Black Lightning Sword slices through the air.

Each swing of the Sword of Annihilation unleashed a tearing sonic boom.

For the past three weeks, Cyan had been practically holed up in the training grounds.

He was practicing none other than the highest level of the Demon Soul Asura Sword.

Quickness, Illusion, Dullness, Strength, Heaviness, Flow, Domination.

The fundamental mysteries of the sword and the origin of all swordsmanship.

Cyan continued his training in the private training ground.

And then.

“Hoo… this is difficult.”

It was quite difficult.

No, the expressions ‘beyond difficult’ and ‘enigmatic’ were more appropriate.

Cyan, who inherited the power of the dragon and awakened his potential.

Now, Cyan could confidently say that he belonged to the category of geniuses.

From the start, it didn’t make sense for a dragon to be dull-witted.

With the growth buff on top of that, Cyan’s talent was beyond description.

But he couldn’t understand it at all.

Because he couldn’t understand, he couldn’t grasp it.

Without enlightenment, even simply imitating it was overwhelming.

He had been training every day, but there were days when he couldn’t even complete the daily tasks.

But whatever.

[Demon Soul Asura Sword Highest Level Progress: 2.3%]

He was gradually increasing the progress rate.

A drop of sweat fell to the floor.

“Shall I try again?”

Cyan gripped the Sword of Annihilation once more.

But only for a moment.

Cyan put down the Sword of Annihilation at the sudden sensation he felt.

After some time.

“You’re working hard.”

A clear voice was heard from the door of the training ground.

Looking over, Aria, the platinum-blonde woman, was standing there.

Aria, who remained in Ruben even after the beastkin incident.

“You’re still here.”

“…Aren’t you being a little too indifferent to me?”

Aria replied with a sulky expression.

Cyan gave an awkward smile.

He had been so busy spending money, preparing for war, and everything else.

He had even forgotten that Aria was in Ruben.

Aria raised her eyes at Cyan.

“And it’s none of my business whether I leave or not.”

Soon, Aria walked slowly towards Cyan with a sulky face.

“That’s true, but you know this is my territory, right? Everything you eat and sleep is coming out of my money.”

“Seriously, that money… how much is it that you’re being so stingy about?”

“That ‘not-so-much’ money. If you’re not going to contribute, then it’s fair to call me stingy.”

“Okay! I’ll give it! Isn’t it enough if I give it!”

With Aria’s shout, a powerful divine power spread throughout the training ground.

*Seriously, what’s with that temper?*

More than that, when did her divine power get so strong again?

Cyan shook his head.

“More than that, is it okay for a saintess like you to be away from your position for so long?”

“Who cares.”

Aria turned her head as if it was none of her business.

It sounded like she was saying that to Cyan, but at the same time, it sounded like she was saying it to the Holy Empire.

“Saintess or whatever. It’s not like I wanted to be one.”

As expected, Aria muttered quietly.

It seemed like there was some story behind it…

Come to think of it, Cyan didn’t know much about Aria.

The saintess of the most powerful divine empire in history.

But in reality, a saintess with a terrible personality.

That was all he knew.

He wasn’t particularly interested, and he had been bickering with her, so he didn’t have the chance to ask.

Was that why?

“Your parents must be worried if you’re away from your position for so long.”

Cyan asked about Aria’s circumstances for the first time.

And perhaps because of the argument with Noemi a few weeks ago.

The first question that came to mind was about her parents.

“What worry would they have when they don’t even know my face?”

“Huh?”

“They’re dead. Both of them.”

Before he could even feel sorry.

Aria continued to speak.

“My mother died right after giving birth to me. And I don’t know about my father. I don’t know where he died.”

“…”

“People praised it as the price of bearing the child of God and a holy death…”

Aria spat out the words.

“What a load of crap.”

Cyan almost burst out laughing.

Platinum-blonde hair that fell softly. Aria with her transcendent beauty.

She could be called the goddess of purity without any exaggeration.

“That’s also bullshit and a load of crap.”

The words coming out of her mouth were no different from a sewer.

“I’m just an ordinary person. Just someone who can use a little divine power. But they’re all talking about the child of God and stuff.”

Aria had been a saintess since birth.

She had lived her life as a saintess regardless of her own will.

Wherever she went, she was a saintess, and whatever she did, she was a saintess.

People were always busy admiring her and praying when they saw her.

*Please, take care of us.*

Aria was God’s representative to the people.

Maybe… maybe that was why.

The reason why Aria was drawn to Cyan for no reason.

Because Cyan didn’t see her as a saintess from the beginning.

He treated her as just one person, an ordinary woman.

No, what ordinary woman.

He was complaining of nausea and dizziness because her face was too ‘disgusting’.

At that time, she really thought, ‘What kind of guy is this?’…

Looking back now, it seemed like that was the first time.

That Aria had lived as Aria, not as a saintess.

“Later, if I ever have a child, I vowed that I would never raise them in the Holy Empire. That thought hasn’t changed even now.”

Because Aria’s child was highly likely to be born with divine power.

Therefore, whether it was a saint or a saintess.

Aria’s child had that fate determined.

But Aria didn’t like that.

A free life, not a determined life like hers.

A life where whatever she did was filled with her own will.

“In that sense, I was really envious of Ruben here.”

The Ruben that Aria saw was such a place.

A paradise on earth, a utopia on earth.

It wasn’t just an expression meaning it was a good place to live.

In this place, Ruben, you could live the life you wanted.

Dreams are often frustrated by the wall of reality.

In Ruben, reality was protecting and supporting dreams.

She heard that it wasn’t like that at first.

Ruben was also as ruthless as any other reality.

It was even more miserable than the reality of other worlds.

A dark forest where people couldn’t live.

Ruben’s reality was beyond ruthless; it was cruel.

It was Cyan who changed and created all of that.

And now, it is Elantur who is threatening all of those things.

“I’ll help too.”

So Aria wanted to protect it.

She wanted to protect the reality where people lived freely.

“I know I shouldn’t be involved in the affairs of other countries as a saintess, but Elantur is related to demons. I’ll have enough reason to intervene.”

Even so, there was a possibility of problems.

After all, Aria was a foreigner.

It was just a war between Ruben and Elantur.

If they wanted to find fault, they could find it in any way.

“I’ll take all the responsibility. Whether I quit being a saintess or get defrocked [removed from the clergy]. I’ll definitely take responsibility. I’ll make sure that no harm comes to you and the people of Ruben.”

But Aria’s will was firm.

As if she had made some kind of decision, Aria’s eyes were filled with determination as she looked at Cyan.

“Let me help too.”

Aria finished speaking.

And Cyan looked back into Aria’s eyes.

At first, Aria visited Ruben out of simple curiosity and jealousy.

But what had Aria seen in Ruben during that time?

Cyan gave a small smile.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m a bastard.”

Then he slowly opened his mouth.

“You might not believe it now, but I was also the biggest dullard in the world. The reason why I was called the disgrace of the Marquis family was because I was the biggest dullard in the world – that I was disgracing the family.”

Cyan chuckled.

“Because of that, I received countless insults and humiliations from the family, so much that it’s hard to put into words. And I couldn’t resist in any way.”

Then Cyan was eventually abandoned by the family and came to the territory of Ruben.

He met Mobile Lord and became Kyle’s successor.

He had gone through countless difficulties and hardships.

He had overcome adversities that were called impossible.

He had faced and fought against the demon lords in mythology.

Rosewell and Nathan.

He broke the shackles of the past and moved forward.

Cyan’s mother, Cecil.

He shook off the lingering attachments of memories and looked to the future.

And now.

“Durak is my father and the beginning of everything.”

Cyan was facing the starting point of the past.

The last remaining past.

The last remaining attachment.

“I have to tie up this matter with my own hands.”

Cyan quietly looked at Aria.

“But…”

“I appreciate your concern for Ruben.”

And Cyan continued.

“But this is something that Ruben has to solve.”

“Then am I!”

*Am I… not a person of Ruben?*

*Can’t I become a person of Ruben?*

That question soared to Aria’s throat.

But because she knew the answer herself, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Aria lowered her head without realizing it.

She felt inexplicably sad. And her heart was breaking…

What could be the reason?

“Lord. The vanguard of Elantur is about to arrive in Ruben.”

At that moment, Hans’ voice was heard from one side.

Cyan nodded lightly.

“I’ll be back.”

Then he walked past Aria.

Aria looked at Cyan’s departing back.

*Really, nothing.*

“…”

She couldn’t say anything.

#

30,000 troops surrounding Ruben.

“It’s quite impressive for such a small territory.”

Lord Laperfils muttered as he looked at the scenery of Ruben.

A vassal under Elantur and the commander leading the vanguard of 30,000 troops, Lord Laperfils.

He was also the commander who had been defeated by Ruben in the past.

To be exact, it was when Ruben launched a preemptive strike against Elantur.

Lord Laperfils couldn’t stop Ruben’s forces.

He had to give up his territory without being able to do anything.

“But this time will be different.”

Laperfils gritted his teeth.

Although the situation was not better than before.

Moreover, this time he was in the position of attacking, not defending.

But Laperfils didn’t care much.

“All weapons. Preparation complete.”

A soldier’s report was heard from the side.

Turning his head, he saw dozens of siege weapons waiting there.

And those catapults were not just ordinary catapults.

They were not primitive siege weapons that simply threw heavy stones.

They were called magic catapults.

Siege weapons with magic technology.

Their power was slightly less than the 6th Circle’s great magic, Explosion.

Therefore, the price was insane.

Each one was equivalent to the annual budget of a barony [a territory held by a baron].

It was a crazy price, but its power was certain.

A great siege weapon that could destroy any castle wall.

“Ruben’s castle wall looks unusual, but…”

Of course, Ruben’s castle wall looked special at first glance.

It looked so strong that the word ‘impregnable fortress’ came out naturally.

“It’s useless in front of this great siege weapon.”

However, it was useless in front of this great siege weapon.

No castle wall in this world could withstand the power of the 6th Circle’s great magic, Explosion.

“Fire all.”

Lord Laperfils gave the order.

But unlike the order, the soldiers did not move.

Just as Laperfils’ expression was frowning.

“However, Lord Laperfils. The Lord only told us to observe Ruben’s movements…”

“Ahem!”

Laperfils interrupted the soldier’s words and shouted.

“We are the vanguard. We are the brave army that goes out first and faces the enemy!”

“But the Lord clearly said…”

“That’s enough!”

Laperfils cut off the words as if he didn’t want to hear them.

The crushing defeat last time.

As a result, Lord Laperfils’ position within Elantur was significantly weakened.

The same influence as before did not work within the vassals [subordinate lords].

There was a tendency to ignore him subtly.

If this continued, he would have to give up his position as Lord.

So this war was a golden opportunity.

*If we capture Ruben before the Lord arrives…*

A chance to make a huge contribution.

A chance to regain his position once again.

Furthermore, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catch Durak’s eye and rise to a higher position.

“I will take all the responsibility. So don’t say any more.”

Laperfils gave the order.

Even so, the soldier hesitated a lot.

Marquis Durak and Lord Laperfils.

The relationship between the Lord and the vassal.

The chain of command was clear to anyone.

And Durak clearly told them to only grasp the movements.

Therefore, they should not follow Laperfils’ orders.

But the fist was closer than the law.

“Are you really going to get hit before you come to your senses!”

The authority of the moment was more frightening than Durak, who was far away.

At Laperfils’ strict order, the vanguard of 30,000 troops moved in unison.

And soon, Woooong…! The magic wave from the catapult resonated through space.

Toong! Toowoong─!

And a large stone was fired from dozens of catapults.

The stone, which was practically a bomb, flew accurately towards Ruben’s castle wall.

Kwaaaaaaaang!!

Kwakwakwang!!!

A roar that shook the heavens and the earth erupted from Ruben’s castle wall.

A thick cloud of dust rose, obscuring the view.

Lord Laperfils gave a small smile at the sight.

The vibration felt just now. The roar that erupted.

He could tell without having to check.

“Everyone, advance!”

That Ruben’s castle wall had collapsed.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa─!!

At Laperfils’ order, the vanguard of 30,000 troops charged forward with a great shout.

They broke through the thick cloud of dust and rushed towards the collapsed castle wall of Ruben.

And soon, when they arrived in front of the collapsed castle wall of Ruben.

Also, when the rising cloud of dust subsided.

“…?”

“…?”

Question marks appeared on the faces of all 30,000 vanguard troops.

There was not a single exception.

All 30,000 vanguard troops were marking question marks.

“It’s… fine?”

Because Ruben’s castle wall was intact without a single scratch.

Laperfils couldn’t understand the scene in front of him at all.

It would be more accurate to say that he couldn’t believe it rather than couldn’t understand it.

Literally, without missing a single word.

There was no such thing as a scratch on Ruben’s castle wall.

Was it right to fire the magic catapult just now?

Such a question arose naturally.

But what was visible in front of him was a clear reality.

“W-what is this…”

Laperfils’ face was stained with great embarrassment.

The face of embarrassment soon transformed into undisguised shock.

*It doesn’t make sense.*

The power of the magic catapult is comparable to the 6th Circle’s great magic, Explosion.

And no castle wall in this world is impossible.

There is no castle wall that can withstand the power of the 6th Circle’s great magic, Explosion.

No, not just the castle wall, but nothing can withstand the power of Explosion.

But… but now…

His eyes widened.

In between.

Kiiiiiiiiiiing─!!

From inside Ruben, an enormous wave of magic erupted.

It was similar to the magic wave that erupted from the magic catapult.

But the level and power itself were on a different dimension.

Kiiiiiiiiiiing─!!

The power that made the entire space tremble.

The skin on his skin vibrated weakly from the aftermath of the power.

And it was a tremor that Lord Laperfils had encountered once.

When Ruben invaded Elantur’s territory.

And on that day, he had to give up his territory helplessly.

Pshushushushushuk!!

Shushushushushuk!!

A shower of arrows that blackened the sky.

The feeling of fear he felt at that time.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwang!!!!

Kwaaaaaaang!!!

The roar that bombarded the entire area covered the heavens and the earth and echoed out.